AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin ISD leaders are looking at new ways to help bridge a projected $181 million budget deficit, with more cuts likely to come.
AISD Superintendent Matias Segura unveiled that package of cuts Tuesday, targeting both administrative overhead and campus-level spending to stabilize the district’s financial outlook.
Segura says district officials have already pinpointed $73.8 million in cuts to central and department budgets. A significant portion of these savings will come from eliminating vacant positions, including at least one high-level vacant role in the deputy superintendent of business and operations.
An additional $33.9 million in cuts has been proposed for campus budgets, though Segura noted that further analysis is required before those figures are finalized.
While the district moves to slash spending, leadership has pledged to protect specific student support roles. Segura says the district will not propose eliminating librarian or counselor positions, and the district intends to maintain current stipends for special education and bilingual teachers. Segura emphasized that maintaining campus staffing levels remains a top priority during the restructuring process.
However, the fiscal constraints will likely be felt in the classroom. An overview of the proposed budget suggests that student-to-teacher ratios may increase, leading to larger class sizes on several campuses. This shift comes as the district enters the final stages of a comprehensive review of athletics, fine arts, transportation, and the Austin ISD Police Department, which is expected to result in further staffing and non-staffing reductions.
To supplement the spending cuts, Segura is looking toward the district's real estate portfolio to generate revenue. The district expects to bring in approximately $45 million through the sale or lease of various properties. These combined efforts are part of a broader strategy to align resources with core educational priorities while addressing the massive shortfall.
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled to review the final proposal and cast a definitive vote on the budget on June 18. Until then, Segura has promised transparency as the district identifies the remaining necessary reductions in central office staffing and departmental contracts.
